A History of Agriculture in India v1.c40.s2.3

v1.c40.s2.3

The *Abhidhanaratnamala* mentions a large variety of cereals and other foodgrains along with their synonyms. The list comprises *sali* rice of three varieties, coarse grain (*kodrava*), mustard (*sarshapa*) of two varieties, pepper or saffron or "Italian millet" (*priyangu*), wild sesamum (*jartila*), wild rice (*nivara*), as well as pulses of four different kinds (*masura*, *kalaya*, *ralla*, and *adhaka*). A group of seventeen articles (including rice and barley) is included by the *Smritis* in the category of grain (*dhanya*). Again, Medhatithi mentions sugar-candy (*ikshukhanda*) and sugar (*sarkara*), along with sweetmeats and milk products. The excellence of *pundra* sugarcane which yielded juice even without a pressing instrument in contrast to a variety of sugarcane (*kosakara*) with its mass of flowers, is pointed out in a verse of the *Kavyamimamsa*. Similarly, the *Vishnudharmottara*, gives a list of five kinds of grains (*dhanya*), viz. barley, wheat, paddy, sesamum, and edible grains of two varieties (*kangu* or *syamaka* and *chinaka*). Among other agricultural products, camphor and *aguru* are given as examples of costly articles by Medhatithi.¹